5 Players the Chicago Bears should target in the 2022 NFL Draft

Ryan Poles has only been the Chicago Bears general manager for a handful of weeks, but he has his work cut out for him. The Bears finished the 2021 season a forgettable 6-11 and have noticeable holes on both sides of the ball. Chicago’s revamped front office is under a lot of pressure to improve the team and do so in a timely manner.

The Bears are expected to be active during free agency, and there is always the possibility of a trade, but the best way to build a contender is through the draft. We’ve seen players like Ja’Marr Chase and Micah Parsons seemingly transform their unit overnight and do so on team-friendly deals.

The Chicago Bears will need a strong draft to compete in 2022

However, things aren’t always that easy. Talents like Chase and Parsons are hard to come by, and it’s increasingly difficult to find sure-fire stars in the later stages. Whatever holes the Bears will try to fill in this draft will be done without a first-round pick. Assuming the pick isn’t traded, 38 of the top prospects will be off the board by the time the Bears are on the clock.

It’s spots like these where being able to scout and evaluate talent is crucial. Poles and company won’t have an easy task at hand. They will be trying to get a first-round value in the second round and will likely be someone who needs to contribute from day one. By no means is this a make or break for Poles, but this draft could be a sign of things to come.

Here are five players the Bears should target in the upcoming draft.